Janikowski ends 18 year Raider run

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that the Oakland Raiders are ending their 18 year relationship with kicker Sebastian Janikowski, advising him that the team will not be re-signing him. Janikowski’s parting with the Silver and Black caps a storied 18-year run with the franchise that made him the 17th overall pick in 2000 — the same draft that saw New England take a little known QB named Tom Brady.

The move really isn’t too big a surprise as Janikowski, who turns 40 this year, spent all of last season on IR with a back issue. Replacing him is 27 year old Giorgio Tavecchio, who was 16 of 21 in field goals and 33 of 34 on extra points last season. The remarkably reliable Janikowski tied an NFL record with a 63 year field goal against the Broncos in 2011, which lasted for 2 seasons until Matt Prater kicked a 64 year field goal. During his time in Oakland, the amazingly accurate and strong kicker booted 55 field goals of 50 yards or more.

Janikowski will leave Oakland as the teams all time leading scorer with 1799 career points. The release comes just months after Janikowski told reporters that he hoped to be kicking for the team when they move to Las Vegas in 2020. With the poor performance of kickers throughout the last couple seasons, it is almost a guarantee that another team will look to pick up the kicker should he decide to continue with his NFL career..